8.30.2011

A couple of weeks ago when John and I were in Colorado visiting our family I picked up these charming vintage red buttons while antiquing with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law at the Springfield Treasure Chest Mall.

I couldn't wait to find them a home.

So, today I grabbed one of my Target maternity t-shirts and jazzed it up with those 4 red babies!

WARNING:

IF YOU HAVE OCD NOW MIGHT BE THE TIME TO LOOK AWAY!!!!

I didn't quite get them straight....

But, no fear...I will try again.

After Mr. Murphy came home from work he joined my sister and I in Athens.

He walked in the door of their apartment, took one look at my chest and said, "Babe, I have to say something. Those things are looking a little off..."

GAH, I know. That's what impatience will get you: a wonky looking uneven chest.

8.29.2011

This weekend was much needed. It kept giving and giving one wonderful thing after another. We did all of fabulous things we said we were going to do and more.

Last night John and I sat out on the wrap around porch and watched the Sunday sun set while we read the 2nd Harry Potter book out loud to each other. I love it when John does the voices, he makes me laugh so hard.

We drank blueberry and cherry cinnamon tea by the light of the lamp next to our swing on the porch.

I love being pregnant and I feel beautiful. I walked in to church yesterday and slid in to the pew where my husband was already sitting, as he had been there an hour and a half earlier than me for meetings. He has been called to be the Young Men's President in our congregation and I am so proud of him. I snuggled down under his big arm. He leaned in close to my ear and said, "You look beautiful." and then he gave me a squeeze. I might have blushed a little, I love it when we still flirt.

Our baby has only given me a few little kicks, nothing uncomfortable or painful yet.

We are approaching the halfway mark and I am eager to start feeling EJ move around more. I listen to her heartbeat every other day on our home doppler. It is like music to my ears. Sometimes we can hear he flipping and moving in there.

8.23.2011

Last night Mr. Murphy and I were doing our bed time ritual of night time prayers. Back when we were dating someone special gave us the wonderful advice that when we have couples prayer at night that BOTH of us should pray out loud together.

We took that to heart and have made it our tradition.

I love the fact that I get to hear John Murphy say a sweet little prayer every night.

Last night was no different. We sleepily climbed in to our cozy bed and I clicked off the light and said my prayer first.

Then it was husband's turn...

"Heavenly Father please help us to continue to have a happy marriage and to prepare for EJ. Please keep her healthy and strong. Help us to continue to make good habits now of spending time together so that when all of the children come along we can keep our marriage and friendship strong and continue in the strong bond that we have."

I wanted to cry. I am so happy to have a husband who is my BEST FRIEND. I know our lives are about to change so much, and for the better. But I sure am enjoying these last few months of it being just the two of us. We talk about EJ every day and dream about what she will look like and all of the things we want to teach her.

I am beginning on her nursery and have a thousand ideas running around in my head. I can't wait to get started on her room. Here is my 18 1/2 week belly and a beautiful rug that I found last night.

8.12.2011

I will never forget the moment that Shannon, the ultrasound tech, said, "Alright Mom and Dad, are you ready to know what your child is?" Then, "It's a girl" popped up on to the screen and I began to cry. I looked over at my sweet John and he was smiling ear to ear.

We left with the biggest grins on our faces. My cheeks hurt like it was our wedding day all over again, I couldn't contain my joy.

We made dozens of phone calls and sent texts and spread the news of our daughter. She is already loved by so many people. The blessings that we are receiving through her are amazing.

I went to work and taught for 4 hours and could hardly concentrate I was on a high from the whole day.

When I came home my mother and sister surprised me and John with a beautiful dinner complete with everything pink! My mother set the table with a full vase of pink gladiolas. We sipped on Raspberry Gingerale and talked about our new little person who will be joining our family in just a short time.

My sister used the linens that came from the old Oat House on The Murphy Ranch. My MIL Kathy gave them to me last time we were down there. They must have been 30 to 40 years old and in beautiful condition. They were all pressed and ironed as perfectly as can be, my guess is that Granny Joy got a hold of them one day. I can't wait to use them for parties and in my home someday.

Our little girl is coming to join us in January! We cannot agree on how to spell her name so for now we will call her Baby EJ. I can't wait to kiss all of her fingers and toes.

8.10.2011

My little tummy is growing and more importantly the tiny human inside of it is growing too.

Today I feel as light as a cloud. I feel refreshed from a good nights rest and my belly is warm and full with a morning bowl of Cream of Wheat topped with molasses.

I am anticipating tomorrow like it is Christmas. Wait, no, better than that. It's almost as good as our wedding day. I think I might get up at 5 am and start getting ready for our ultrasound. I can't wait to find out what our child is.

It will change our lives no matter what.

If we have a son that will bring on a whole myriad of moments.

I'm not sure I would know what to do with a little boy because I have been surrounded by women my whole life.

An entire vision of moments pass through my mind though.

holding my little boy

kissing my little boy

watching him play with sticks and rocks and trucks

feeling so protective, as i know he would be a little daredevil

wiping his tears away when he falls down and scrapes his knees

watching John play with our son

teaching him how to ride a bike

saying "no" to playing video games a million times

watching him read his scriptures

having trouble waking him up early in the early morning and seeing his messy hair peek out from underneath his covers

watching him receive the priesthood

seeing him be a big brother to his younger siblings

sending him off on a mission

watching him return two years later and embracing him for 30 whole minutes

seeing him with his own children and wife as he follows the excellent example of his father

Then of course if we have a little girl my whole life would be full of different things too. I can see her now with blonde bouncy curls just like I had. Hopefully she has her father's luscious eyelashes and beautiful brown eyes. My visions with this little girl are completely different.

watching this perfect little baby sleep

examining the beautiful lips that look just like her father's

seeing her discover new things

chasing her around as i know she will be full of more energy than i ever had

dressing her in beautiful little things

fixing her hair

kissing away her tears when she discovers that sometimes friends can be mean

teaching her about her individual worth

chatting about crushes and boys

helping her dress her body modestly

worrying all day about her driving around after getting a license

sharing soul touching conversations

laying in bed and playing with her hair as we talk about where to go to college

My mother took this video last night. I am in my 17th week of pregnancy. My voice is doing some weird things in the video, please know this isn't how I really talk. I just thought I'd start the baby talk a bit early.

8.09.2011

My mind is racing at the moment. It is filled with warm thoughts of this child I am carrying.

I suppose it hasn't really hit me much until today that this is real, and even then I think I am grasping a tiny fraction of the reality of this situation.

Two heavenly things happened today.

This morning as I was in the shower I was running my hands over my little bump of a tummy and I felt something. Something inside me changed. It was as if my spirit was meeting my baby's spirit for the first time. My spirit said "Hello." and my baby's responded with joy. I felt the bond I had been waiting to feel. At 16 1/2 weeks pregnant I finally felt that moment I had been waiting for. I smiled as I knew things were going to different from here on.

(our baby's bassinet, a gift from my cousin)

Then around noon I went to visit a dear old high-school friend. She is 37 weeks pregnant and her little boy Brady could come anytime now. We sat around and talked about being pregnant and our feelings. It felt so good to talk to someone who knew everything about this miracle that I am experiencing. As we sat on the floor of her little boy's nursery my whole being was vibrating with excitement. I couldn't wait to be in her shoes.

We moved in to the living room and each had a snack. Then I looked over at her and she was smiling down at her belly and told me that Brady was moving. I asked her if I could feel him and she said yes. So, I snuggled up next to her and her baby and felt the most miraculous thing.

A foot and a bum.

My eyes got huge and my mouth gaped open. I don't remember ever feeling a baby move around like her was. He was stretching his little feet and squirming around. I almost teared up as I felt that little life move around inside of her. I have only felt tiny flutters of my baby and I can't wait to feel it more.

This pregnancy has been so easy so far. I feel very lucky to have felt as well as I have. We are slowly accumulating a few baby things around the house. I'm sure after this Thursday's appointment baby prep will pick up a lot more around here. I don't think I'll be able to resist going in to nesting mode right away.

John and I go in two days to find out what we are having. I have no idea what it is going to be. But, it will be ours and it will be the most incredible little human we will ever meet. I can't wait to feel little feet and a bum moving around in my tummy.